Mystery surrounds death of schoolboy - aged five

MYSTERY surrounds the death of an apparently fit and healthy five-year-old boy found collapsed at his father’s home.

Just a few days before his death Blake Norie had been discharged from Sheffield Children’s Hospital with a clean bill of health following a check up after a playground incident at school when he was kicked in the groin.

But on Saturday the popular schoolboy was found dead at his dad’s house in Lowedges - collapsed at the bottom of the stairs.

The cause of the Meynell Primary School pupil’s death is still unknown and unexplained, making it even harder for his shocked family to comprehend.

Mum Kelly, aged 22, has been left heartbroken by the loss, along with the rest of the family which includes dad Nathan Hibert, grandfather Stuart Norie, and great-grandparents Kathleen and George Norie.

“That’s what makes all this even harder to understand - he seemed fine, there was nothing wrong. He’d been injured during a school yard game a few weeks before, but we don’t think it’s anything linked to that.”

Blake’s family and friends are planning a balloon release on Saturday as a memorial to the youngster in Lowedges Park at 1pm, when a group of youngsters from the cul-de-sac where Nathan - who is separated from Kelly - lives will join his family to set them off in his memory.

The event will coincide with other balloon releases taking place in Cambridge, Stoke, Devon, Grimsby and Middlesborough where his friends and family live.

Blake’s grandfather Stuart, 44, said: “He was a gorgeous little boy - blond hair, blue eyes, he looked like butter wouldn’t melt, although he could be a cheeky so-and-so!

“He loved school where he had lots of friends and he couldn’t wait to go in every day. At the moment we don’t know what’s happened, we could have to wait months - and we might never find out. That’s an awful thought.”

At Blake’s wake the family plan to tuck into sausages, mashes potatoes, gravy and sweetcorn, followed by Skittles sweets for dessert - Blake’s dream dinner.

“His granddad will have to eat the blue sweets though,” George said, “because Blake didn’t like them!

“He was a fun and lively lad who was mad on Ben 10 and Thomas the Tank Engine. My fondest memory of him will be sitting on the settee together eating grapes - me throwing the fruit into his mouth for him to catch.

“We just can’t believe he is gone.”

A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police said they were investigating Blake’s death.

“The death is currently unexplained with officers conducting enquiries on behalf of Her Majesty’s Coroner in an attempt to ascertain the circumstances surrounding this incident.”

* Blake’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, August 9, with a service at the City Road Chapel at 11.15am followed by a burial.